Boomerang-thrower



(No Model.)

M. CUMMINS. BOOMERANG I 'HR()WER.

Patented June 3, 1890.

, awvmtoz $171756 Cur/77mm 6,

@5 21s m mmt o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL CUMMINS, OELEADVILLE, COLORADO.

' BOOMERANG-THROWER,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,230, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed December 1'7, 1889. Serial No.334,0'7'7. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LIMICHAEL CUMMINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leadville, in the county of Lake and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Toy Catapult or Boomerang-Thrower, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a toy catapult or boomerang thrower. Heretofore boomerangs have been thrown by hand, and this requires prac tice and skill.

It is the object of this. invention to provide a catapult which will throw a boomerang with precision and force, and which will not require any skill in its use, and, further, the object is to provide as an article of manufacture a toy boomerang and catapult which will be simple, durable, and inexpensive.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in various novel details of construction hereinafter more particularly pointed out, described, and claimed.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, forming part thereof, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the catapult having the boomerang in the socket. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the catapult the socket being shown in vertical section and the boomerang as separate from the catapult.

In the drawings,thc letter A designates the handle.

B is a resilient wire, fastened to the handle by the staples C. Above the uppermost pair of staples the wire B is coiled upon itself in order to increase its elasticity. The wire B is made a little longer than the top of the handle A, and has upon its upper end the socket D, of U shape cross-section, the ends of whose body has longitudinal tubular portions D, in which the wires B are seated and soldered or otherwise fastened in such position that the lower part of the socket D will strike the upper part of the handle A, and the upper part of the socket D will project beyond the handle A. E is the boomerang, made of card-board, sheet metal, or the like, and having one or both of its ends adapted to fit the socket D.

The socket D is provided with the braces (1 cl to retain the boomerang E in place, and is open in front for the ejection of the boomerang. The brace d passes across the open front of the socket at about the center of its length, and is bent at its ends around the tubular portions D, whereby the latter are strengthened and the brace held in position. The front edge of the boomerang near, its lower end stands against this brace when the boomerang is in'plaoe, and the latter is thereby given the rotary motion, hereinafter described, when the catapult is fired. The other brace cl stands across the lower open end of the socket and sustains the lower end of the boomerang. The rear edge or bend of the U shaped socket is enlarged and rounded, as shown, so as to form a convenient handle, by which it may be operated. At the upper end of this bend is formed a cover or plate P, against the front edge of which the boomerang rests when in position to be fired.

My catapult or boomerang-thrower is operated as follows: Into the socket D is inserted one end of the boomerang E. The handle A is grasped in the left hand and the catapult held in a position slightly inclined to the horizon in order to give the boomerang a slight rise. lVith the right hand the socket D is pulled back as far as the spring will be bent and then released. The spring will carry the socket against the upper end of the handle with great force, and the boomerang will be ejected from the socket by the sudden check thus received; The boomerang when thrown from the catapult by the sudden check of the motion of socket takes two 1notionsi. 6., a forward motion and a rotary motion. The latter is imparted by the brace d, which retains the lower end of the boomerang, causing it to turn to the lower position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, after which it rises as it turns to the other position, and is then ejected with the two motions desired.' The plate P causes the rear edge of the boomerang to stand forward of the rear edge of the socket, so that when it turns in the socket, as just described, its motion will not be obstructed thereby, as will be clear. As long as the forward motion is greater than the rotary motion, so long will the boomerang continue to move away from the starting-place, but with a curveslight at firsttoward the right. \Vhen at length the rotary motion becomes predominant, the boomerang will curve still more, and return to or near to the startingplace.

I have described the spring B as made of a simple piece of wire; but I may make use of any number or kinds of springs, and in the drawings I have shown a spring formed of two similar pieces of wire.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described catapult, consisting of the handle A,the spring-wires B, secured thereto near their lower ends and extending above the upper end of the handle, and the socket D, of U shape cross-section, said socket having longitudinal tubular portions D, within which the upper ends of said wires are secured, the whole operating substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described catapult, consisting of the handle A, the spring-wires 13, secured thereto near their lower ends and extending above the upper end of the handle, and the socket D, of U shape cross-section, said socket having longitudinal tubular portion D, within which the upper ends of said wires are secured, and the brace d, standing across the open mouth of said socket and having its ends embracing said tubular portions, as set forth.

The herein-described catapult, consisting of the handle A, the spring-wires 13, secured thereto near their lower ends and extending above the upper end of the handle,

and the socket D, of U shape cross-section,

its ends secured to the upper ends of said wires, and the bend of its body being onlarged, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The hercin-described catapult, consisting of the handle A, the spring-wires 13, secured thereto near their lower ends and extending above the upper-end of the handle, the socket D, of U shape cross-section, its ends secured to the upper ends of said wires, braces (land cl across the center of the open mouth and bottom of said socket, respectively, and a plate P, covering the rear extremity of the open upper end, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atlixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL CUMMINS. \Vitnesses:

FRANK TooL, J. F. LEWIS. 

